John Stones tipped to captain Everton and England by Derek Mountfield

West Ham United's Carlton Cole (left) and Everton's John Stones battle for the ball

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Derek Mountfield is tipping John Stones, the current incumbent in his old position in the Everton side, to become a future captain of both club and country.

Stones missed England’s opening match at the European Under-21 Championship finals after suffering concussion following an accidental training ground collision with goalkeeper Jack Butland and will also have to sit out tonight’s game against Sweden but coach Southgate hopes to have him back in time for the final group match with Italy on Wedneaday.

Mountfield said: “John Stones is a very slight lad but deep down I think he knows his own strength. We just have to be careful that we don’t drift into letting him become too much of a ball-playing centre-half and not someone who can lead the team, dominate and overcome certain types of centre-forwards.

Everton's John Stones celebrates scoring his sides second goal of the match.

“He’s a tremendous prospect though and he seems to be getting better every time I see him.

“A bit like myself he’s prone to mistakes but all you can do it learn from them and become a better player.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if within the next five or six years he’s not only captained Everton but captained his country.”

David Moyes’ parting gift to Everton, Stones was the Scot’s final signing when he joined from Barnsley for £3million on January 31 2013 and Mountfield is delighted with the youngster’s progress.

He said: “John is a young lad who came in and after just a very few games for Everton he got in the England squad.

“He’s still developing but I think he’s got a great future in the game ahead of him if he keeps listening and learning.

“His progression over the last 15 months or so has been brilliant. My only concern with John and a lot of the centre-halves these days is that they need to remember the art of defending.“A lot of our defenders now are being coached to play too much football and they’re taking risks in the wrong areas.”

Mountfield added: “John was caught out a couple of times last season and got sent off in Europe making a mistake.

“They’re the sort of errors that you’d never see a defender make 30 years ago because they’d have just stuck their foot through the ball and got rid of it.

“In the current climate, everyone, including defenders are encouraged to pass the ball and move it around and they do forget the art of defending at times.